TVK Innsbruck 4-3 Olten
TVK Innsbruck saw off Olten 4-3 in a club friendly on Thursday evening. The hosts had been building momentum through their recent run — five games without defeat, including wins over Ravensburg and Regensburg — while Olten arrived with three consecutive victories behind them. And here's the thing, you didn't need to watch the whole ninety minutes to sense the tone was set early.
Innsbruck's form over the summer had been nothing short of impressive. They'd beaten Turgau twice and taken a point against Salzburg away to Austria's giants. Olten, meanwhile, had scored freely — four goals against Landschut, three against Basel. By then, anyone watching the recent results would have expected goals, but 4-3 still feels like a scoreline that tells only part of the story.
What struck me about this one was the rhythm. Both sides came out looking for openings, and with nothing to lose on either bench, the tempo stayed high. Olten's attack had been firing on all cylinders — seven against GCK Lions back in August — and Innsbruck's defence had been tested but held firm. To be fair, the result suited both parties in a friendly, though Innsbruck would rather have taken the three points.
Looking at the broader picture, this friendly fits a pattern. Teams are using these windows to build cohesion before the competitive season bites. Innsbruck's recent results show a side that can score and defend in equal measure, while Olten's attacking output suggests they'll be dangerous when they find their flow.